Created by FindLaw's team of legal writers and editors | Last reviewed March 05, 2018
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Arizona has a series of detailed laws that prohibit buying or selling sex, or otherwise profiting from prostitution. The act of prostitution is defined as engaging in, offering to or agreeing to engage in sexual conduct under a fee arrangement with any person for money or anything else of value.
The typical prostitution "transaction" can involve charges against the provider of services (for "prostitution"), the customer paying for the services (for "solicitation of prostitution"), and any middleman (for "pandering" or "pimping"). The penalties for prostitution and solicitation is progressive, meaning the more guilty convictions you have for the offense the more sever the penalties become. So you may receive a fine for a first offense, but the third offense carries a mandatory 60-day jail sentence.
Arizona law strictly forbids prostitution. Sexual contact doesn’t need to occur for a conviction of criminal prostitution or solicitation. To be found guilty, the state must prove three elements:
The following chart provides a general overview of the elements, defenses, and penalties relating to the Arizona prostitution law. Arizona criminalizes the separate offenses of patronizing a prostitute, promoting prostitution, compelling prostitution, sex trafficking, and running a brothel. The City of Phoenix has a very inclusive law that criminalizes solicitation and prostitution.
Arizona Statutes |
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Statutory Definition |
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Penalties and Sentences |
Prostitution is a class 1 misdemeanor, if:
Prostitution is a class 5 felony, if:
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Defenses |
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Note: State laws are always subject to change through the passage of new legislation, rulings in the higher courts (including federal decisions), ballot initiatives, and other means. It’s important to verify the laws you’re researching by conducting your own research or consulting with a qualified Arizona criminal defense attorney.
A conviction for prostitution or solicitation can carry penalties ranging from fines to prison time. It can also involve a social stigma that's hard to leave behind. If you've been charged with prostitution in Arizona, it's in your best interests to reach out to an experienced sex crime attorney who can help evaluate the evidence against you and put forward a strong defense on your behalf.
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